Students sleeping outside campus have their own agenda, says DUT

STUDENTS who slept outside the Steve Biko campus on Tuesday night, were pursuing their own agenda, said the Durban University of Technology.

This comes after a social media outcry showing pictures of more than 20 students with their luggage stranded at night outside the Steve Biko Campus.

The university has dismissed the incident as a publicity stunt, adding that temporary accommodation was made available for those that required it.

“Students who had decided to not use the University’s temporary accommodation, have done so to pursue their own agenda. DUT will not be held liable for providing accommodation for walk-ins and returning students who did not apply for residence during the required application period in 2019,” said Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT.

READ RELATED: Student protests flare up over historic debt

Khan said on Monday afternoon (27 January) Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor, had approved and signed the renewal of contracts of student accommodation service providers

Thamsanqa Mewmela, suspended DUT Student Representative Council President, who shot a video of the stranded students said, “It is time we expose DUT, we have been quiet for a long time.”

Cebolenkosi Buthelezi, SRC for Organisations and Accommodations, said he was disheartened with the incident and would be meeting with management on organising temporary accommodation for the stranded students.

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